STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Pennsylvania home of a woman with ties to Staten Island was the "distribution hub" of a $2.7 million marijuana-trafficking ring, authorities allege.

Tameicina Lynn Johnson, 38, of Plum, a Pittsburgh suburb, was arrested Friday after a year-long probe by Pennsylvania authorities, according to a published report in the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review.

Ms. Johnson was accused of possessing 540 pounds of marijuana.

Authorities allege she was part of a drug ring that extended from Mexico to New York City. Plum was the distribution hub, police said.

Det. Mark Focareta of the Plum Police Department said some marijuana was sold locally, although most of it was distributed elsewhere, the newspaper reported. Dealers from Connecticut, Delaware, New York and Ohio allegedly purchased pot at Ms. Johnson's home.

Ms. Johnson, who works for an agency that assists mentally challenged children, is being held on $2 million bond.

Authorities said a break in the case came on Feb. 24.

Workers from the Holiday Park apartment complex and the Plum Borough Municipal Authority went to Ms. Johnson's home to shut off her water for non-payment of bills.

Investigators allegedly found six large boxes and smelled unused marijuana in a garage utility room.

Inside the cartons were marked bales of marijuana, along with plastic bags, an industrial-sized scale and a roll of industrial plastic wrap.

Besides her home in Plum, Ms. Johnson also has a residence on Staten Island, the newspaper reported. Public information sources show a most recent address for a Tameicina Johnson in Mariners Harbor and prior listings in New Brighton and Tompkinsville.

Attempts to reach a family member by phone yesterday were unsuccessful.

Police from Plum and several other communities, along with the Allegheny County district attorney's office and the Allegheny County Port Authority worked on the probe.

Focareta and the police chief were off and unavailable yesterday, said an officer for the Plum Police Department.

Messages left yesterday at the Allegheny County district attorney's office and the Allegheny County Port Authority were not immediately returned. 

Frank Donnelly is a news reporter for the Advance. He may be reached at fdonnelly@siadvance.com.